dollhopf



Sept. 13, 1932. DOLLHQPF 1,876,870

BELL HAMMER HOLDER Filed Feb. 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 nventor H. Dollhbpf I A llorne y Filed Feb. 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor H. 170101 o of Patented Sept. 13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE v HANS DOLLHOPF, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK BELL HAMMER HOLDER Application filed February 9, 1932. Serial No. 591,905.

This invention relates to a novel device which may be referred to as a hammer holder and it has more specific reference to an appliance constituting a novel contribution to the equipment of a drummer to facilitate the holding of a plurality of conventional hammers used in playing bells, Vibraphone, tubaphone, and the like.

Musicians performing on instruments of the aforementioned type are sometimes seen using three, four, or more hammers while playing on a Vibraphone for instance, the object being to permit rendition of a number with fuller and more voluminous effect than is permissible through the utilization of two hammers such as is ordinarily employed. Admittedly however, the use of a multiplicity of hammers requires expert skill and commands the attention of only such players as may be found in the so-called virtuoso class.

I have, in view of the foregoing circumstances, discovered the need for mechanical means for holding four hammers systematically to permit the hammers to be maintained in relative even planes in order to produce harmonious passages in unison over approximately the entire compass of the musical Scale In carrymg the inventive conceptlon into actual practice, I have evolved and produced simple and economical means for accomplishing the aforesaid result, whereby it is possible for an ordinary professional musioian to simultaneously strike chords whose tones are founded on relatively widely spaced intervals of the musical scale, and this being permissible in an accurate manner with the requisite degree of precision and dependability.

My primary aim is to provide hammer holders for both left and right hands, permitting the performer to expand his hammer hitting radius in order to obtain more melodious musical expressions and to do this in a simple manner without undue expenditure of energy and without permitting accidental displacement and loss of the hammers.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hammer holder showing a pair of hammers attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an edge View observing Figure 1 in a direction from right to left.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the holder. I

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the companion section.

Figures 5 and 6 are sections on the line 5-5 and 66 respectively of Figures 3 and 4 successively.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view.

The improved holder is of a mechanical nature and is obviously composed of a pair of companionate parts or sections. One part is distinguished by the numeral 8 and the complemental part by the numeral 9. The part 8 as better seen in Figure 3, comprises a shank 10 having a socket 11 provided with a set screw 12 to accommodate the stem 13 of one of the hammers 14.

Carried by and directed laterally from the shank is a handgrip which comp 'ises an elongated member fashioned to provide a finger ring 15 for the middle finger of the right hand, and a plurality of depression forming seats 16, 17 and 18. Obviously the seat 16 serves to accommodate the index finger and the seats 17 and 18 the little finger and next adjacent finger.

The numeral 19 designates a fulcrum notch to accommodate the notched portion 20 of the part 9. In fact, these two parts are pivotally connected together by a pin 21 and arranged in intersecting relation to resemble pair of scissors.

The part 9 also comprises a shank 22 having a socket 23 to accommodate the stem 24 of the remaining hammer 25, a set screw 26 serving to hold the hammer removably in place. This part is provided with a finger ring 27 having a stop lug 28 co-operable with the hand gripping portion of the part 8 as seen in Figure 1, to limit the movement of the two parts in a direction toward each other. This is the position in which the hammers are substantially parallel for producing a predetermined tone interval. This may be so arranged as to permit the playing of thirds for example, which is a combination of tones frequently used in producing extemporaneous harmony.

The socket in each instance is of the construction illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, it being observed that the upper half of the bore thereof is cored out to accommodate an elongated semi-circular follower plate 29 against which the adjacent set screw acts to insure firm clamping of the hammer stem in place.

It is within the discretion of the performer to use these devices either singly or in pairs for both right and left hand as oocasion may demand. The devices are made to permit easy use of four hammers, thus making it possible to play four tones in chord formation and permitting the tone to be sounded in unison, progression, orin any manner that the musical composition demands.

It is not deemed necessary to consider all of the commercial advantages or points of possible harmonious performance such as may be insured through the use of the invention, for all that is apparently necessary so far as the invention is concerned, is the mechanical construct-ion whereby the aforesaid results may be satisfactorily accomplished.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy descript-ion is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture, a hand gasped and manipulated hammer accessory comprising a device including a pair of intersecting pivctally connected members constructed at their inner ends to form a handgrip and at their outer ends to accommodate two or more conventional hammers, whereby to permit the hammers to be held in an even plane .ith each other and moved toward and from each other in predetermined spaced interval distances for playing the tone of musical chords in unison.

2. A multiple hammer holder of the class described comprising a pair of intersecting pivotally connected levers having opposed handgripping means movable toward and from each other, and means permitting a plurality of hammers to be attached to the worl'- ing ends of the levers.

3. A multiple hammer holder of the class described comprising a pair of com aanion levers disposed in intersecting relation and pivotally connected together, each lever in cluding a shank portion, the shank portions of the respective levers being disposed in spaced parallelism when in a predetermined position and provided with clamping means for a pair of hammers, permitting the hammers to beheld in a true horizontal plane and in parallelism to each other, the levers hav ing hand gripping means permitting the hammers to be moved toward and from each other for the purposes specified.

i. A hammer holder of the class described comprising a primary lever having a socketed shank and clamping means to accommodate one hammer, and having a laterally directed hand gripping portion formed with a finger ring and adjacent finger notches, a secondary lever having its outer end provided with a socket to accommodate a second hammer, clamping means for said hammer, and having its remaining portion formed with a thumb ring with a stop engageable with the laterally directed portion of the first named lever, said levers being pivotally connected together in intersecting relationship.

In testimony whereof I aflix my simiature.

HANS DOLLHOPF. 

